About Chalcedony

Shop chalcedony HERE.

Keep reading to discover more about chalcedony

  • Mineralogy and geology*
  • Common Associations
  • Metaphysical, Spiritual and Healing* Properties*

How to pronounce CHALCEDONY 

Mineralogy and Geology of Chalcedony

Mineral formula: SiO2

Crystal system: trigonal

Crystal habit: fibrous aggregates of parallelly grown ("fibrous") quartz crystals of microscopic and sub-microscopic size. In larger specimens, the "fibers" grow in botryoidal, rounded and stalactitic habits. They often show concentric banding perpendicular to the fiber orientation and are then called Agate.

Cleavage: none

Fracture: conchoidal, sub-conchoidal

Color: colorless, white, to any shade of any color depending on included minerals

Luster: waxy, dull; can be vitreous when polished

Diaphaneity: translucent

Moh’s scale hardness: 6 ½ - 7

Streak: colorless

Specific gravity: 2.6

Named after: the town of Chalcedon, now called Kadıköy, and a district within the city of Istanbul, Turkey.

Geological occurrence: Chalcedony occurs in many different geological settings, including: nodules, vein fillings, crusts in volcanic rocks; as sinter-like crusts in low- to medium temperature hydrothermal veins; in silica-rich marine sedimentary rocks; as nodular concretions and layers in limestones and marls; as a metasomatic replacement in limestones and marls ("replacement chert"); as cement in sandstones; replacing other minerals as pseudomorphs; as a fossilizing material (petrified wood, coral agate).

Spiritual, Metaphysical and Healing Properties

Chalcedony has a nurturing energy, promoting feelings of brotherhood, benevolence, generosity, responsiveness, receptivity and good will. Chalcedony brings the mind, body, emotions and spirit into harmony by removing hostility, sadness, self-doubt, and other negative thoughts and emotions. Each type / color of chalcedony may have additional properties.

When working with crystal grids, chalcedony can be used in similar ways to quartz, although its energy is gentler.

Common Associations

  • Chakra – depends on color and type
  • Numerology - vibrates to the number 9
  • Planets – variable, depends on the type
  • Zodiac – Cancer, Sagittarius
  • Birthstone – variable, depends on the type of chalcedony
  • Wedding Anniversary – variable, depends on the type of chalcedony

____

* Always consult with your medical professional for any physical or long-term healing issues.

* Mineralogical information is from mindat.org

* Metaphysical properties come from 

Love Is in the Earth (1995) Melody, Earth-Love Publishing House, 726 pp.

The Crystal Bible, A Definitive Guide to Crystals (2003) Judy Hall, Walking Stick Press, 399 pp.